CitizenMorgan

COUNTY

THE MADISONIAN Serving Morgan County since 1842.

“Our hearts grow tender with childhood memories and love of kindred, and we are better throughout the year for having, in spirit, become a child again

at Christmas-time.” - Laura Ingalls Wilder

Inside the 2013 special Christmas edition...

Letters to Santa

Morgan County Primary School Students share their Christmas wishes.

Page 6 & 7

Citizen interviewsSanta’s right-hand-elf, Jangle Crane.

Page 12

Kid’s PageThe annual Citizen’s kid’s page, for the young and young at heart features a maze, crossword and reindeer talent contest.Page 12

The Citizen’s staff shares their favorite Holiday recipes so that you may enjoy these scrumptious dishes as well!

RECIPES

Page 4

Santa’sCookiesThe Citizen goes to Mrs. Latham’s 2nd grade class to fi nd out what Santa’s favorite cookie is.

Page 10

The artwork for this cover was taken from the Madisonian’s 1963 Christmas Edition.

DECEMBER 19, 2013www.morgancountycitizen.comC2 Christmas Edition

From our house to yours,Merry

Christmas!

167 W. Jefferson St. Madison706.342.4514

Wishing Our Community & County

A Christ-Filled Merry Christmas!

Sandy Creek Baptist Church4620 Sandy Creek Rd.

Madison, GA706-342-3367

Happy HolidaysFrom our family to yours, please have a

safe and happy holiday season! Eddie BurdenLucy Lord

Ray StapletonNicole Hicks

Alison JenkinsKelly Sears1001 ennin on Rd adison

(706) 342-0414

Merry, Merry Christmas

From all of us atLaughing Moon

&In High Cotton!AFTER CHRISTMAS SALES

START AT BOTH STORES ON

DECEMBER 26TH!

LAUGHING MOON

706-342-8008

IN HIGH COTTON

706-342-7777

Christmas at the Citizen

Christmas at the Madisonian1978 : Michelle and Jennette Willoughby and Marsha Stewart look in on The Madisonian window.

By Nick Nunncolumnist

Signs are cropping up everywhere in the outside world that Christmas Day is inching nearer, but as the hours tick off and the temperature continues to fall, everything seems about normal here at 259 North Second Street.

Yep, Christmas cheer hasn’t really taken any particular hold on the Citizen’s office building quite yet.

True, the miniature tree with its odd ornaments – pine cones and a couple US flags – has been planted firmly on the table in the front office for a few weeks now, and Ryan Roberts, sales representative, can be found in his office diligently working on Christmas cards for our advertisers, but, other than that, it seems like any other working week at the paper.

Of course, anyone betting on the chance that the atmosphere here will stay this way for very much longer would be in danger of being called a “foo” by Dianne.

Before you know it, we’ll be hanging around the office wearing Santa hats and singing carols – more than likely at the top of our lungs when properly inspired.

And, although I doubt that they will, Ryan and Jesse Walker, photographer, have threatened to buy a one-piece bunny costume like Ralphie’s in “A Christmas Story” for me to wear during the holidays.

In fact, I’m so sure that they won’t that I promised that I would wear it if they bought it.

Heck, I’ll even let them run a picture of it. I’ve also heard rumblings that there may be another Citizen Christmas party

this year, which, if last year’s party was any indicator, is a hazardous possibility for both the staff as well as the general public.

Last year’s party was a rip-roaring, carousing affair that began innocently enough in Amici’s with a game of Dirty Santa and ended up spilling out onto Main Street before the night was over.

It was a good time. Since last year, we’ve said goodbye to a few old faces and gotten the chance to

welcome some new people into our lives. Soon enough, we’ll start discussing plans for the holidays and the gifts that we

intend to give to our loved ones, and, after it is all over, a couple of us will com-plain about how little we got from Santa.

OK, it’ll be me.So, if you want to give any of us extra presents out of the goodness of your

heart, you know where to find us (address at the top).Merry Christmas from the staff of the Morgan County Citizen!

From the staff ofTHE MORGAN

COUNTY CITIZEN AND

LAKE OCONEE LIVING

DECEMBER 19, 2013 www.morgancountycitizen.com C3Christmas Edition

2256 North Main Street 706.342.7211

www.AccessUnited.com © 2013 United Bank · Member FDIC · Equal Housing Lender

Wishing you a very Merry Christmas

From your friends at

Candlelight Christmas Eve & Lord’s Supper ServiceDecember 24th

Visions of Sugarplums: Morgan County students draw their Christmas ideasDrawn by Vanessa Drawn by Aubree

Drawn by Ella Martin

Drawn by Michael

Drawn by Jay

Drawn by Mauricio

DID YOU KNOW?• Ancient civilizations, such as the druids, believed

mistletoe to be sacred because it remains green in the winter and bears fruit year round, while all other vegetation seems to die. Druids would cut the plant with golden sickles and never let it touch the ground. They believed it to have the power to cure infertility, nervous disease and to ward off evil.

• According to legend, a poor Italian father was faced with selling one of his three daughters into

slavery to afford to pay the dowries of the other two to marry. One night the daughters had washed out their stockings and hung them over the fi replace to dry. Having heard of their misfortune, a good saint decided to pay them a visit and secretly tossed three bags fi lled with gold down the chimney and into their stockings. His kindhearted gift allowed all three maidens to marry.

• The Viking god Odin was a precurser to Santa Claus. According to myth, Odin rode his fl ying horse, Sleipnir (a precurser to Santa’s reindeer), who had eight legs. In the winter, Odin gave out both gifts and

punishments and children would fi ll their boots and stockings with treats for Sleipnir.

• Throughout Medieval Europe, a very large candle, called the Christmas candle was burned until the twelfth night in remembrance of the arrival of the Wise Men to Bethlehem. In Victorian times, candles represented good will for those less fortunate and were placed in windows December 25 through Jan-uary 6 to indicate welcome to any passerby need-ing shelter and food. Some believed the fl ames from these candles warded their homes from evil spirits during the darkest days of the year.

DECEMBER 19, 2013www.morgancountycitizen.comC4 Christmas Edition

FROM OUR TABLE TO YOURSThe best of the Citizen staff’s covered dish lunches

If you know us here at the ��������������� ��, you know that we like to eat.

A lot.One of our favorite Thanksgiving and Christmas-time traditions is to bring dishes for our lunch on Tuesday.What follows is the best of our joint table.We hope this inspires you this holiday.

NICK’S SAUSAGE BALLSI know that this might seem like a lazy choice, but, when the holidays roll around, I just can’t seem to get enough of these tasty, mouth-sized treats. A lot of recipes recom-mend making a dip to go along with the sau-sage balls, but I don’t know why anyone would need anything other than the little hot, sharp, dry-but-juicy snacks to keep you coming back for more. And the best part: they are incred-ibly simple to make. Just combine and bake. Short of burning them into crispy little comets, you can’t go wrong. INGREDIENTS:1 lb. ground sausage3 cups of baking mix4 cups sharp cheddar, grateda pinch of black (or cayenne) pepperDIRECTIONS:Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Mix all of the ingredients together. Form mixture into one-inch balls. Place the balls on lu-bricated baking sheet. Bake until golden brown (approximately 18 minutes). Turn once during baking, if necessary. Re-move, let cool, and eat until bloated.

SHERRY’S SUGAR COOKIES WITH SPRINKLES

Go to Wally World and park out by the buggy return area. Enter on the grocery side, pass by red box and continue straight to aisle (28) Beer, Wine, Eggs, Biscuits. Turn left, go down about 14 feet and look to your right up above the shelf for Pillsbury “Ready To Bake “ Sugar Cookies. The sugar cookie package has a picture of a doughboy holding some Sugar cook-ies. Proceed to check out. Wait! First go to Sugar, Flour spices aisle and get your Sugar Crystals. I like red and green at Christmas time. Okay, now go check out and then head home on I-20 or back roads about 89 mph. Slow down before parking in driveway, it’s important. Trust me. Run in, turn on the stove, if it still works from last Christmas. Turn it up to about 350 F. Place cookies dough rounds about 2 inches apart on ungreased old biscuit stained pan. Grab your red and green Crystals and mash them into the dough so that it looks homemade . My secret is the more you mash the dough, the better you fool family members. Bake for 11 to 15 minutes unless you’re use to eating burnt food like me. If that is the case, then cook another extra 4 /5 mins. Let cool about 5 minutes and try two cookies before calling your dog, fam-ily and wanna be family members. And last but not least, Have a MERRY CHRIST-MAS. Happy Birthday Jesus.

RYAN’S STRAWBERRY PRETZEL SALADThis is one of my favorite holiday reci-pes because it is the perfect mixture of salty and sweet. It also makes a great dessert as well!1ST LAYER

Mix 2 cups of crushed pretzels with 3/4 cup of margarine and 1 table-spoon of sugar. Bake in a large pyrex dish at 400 degrees for 8 minutes. Set aside and let cool.2ND LAYER

Mix 1 large box of strawberry Jello with cups of hot water and let come to a soft set in the fridge. Then add 1 10oz pack of thawed and drained frozen strawberries and 1 large can of drained, crushed pine-

apple. Place on top of pretzel layer.3RD LAYER

While Jello is setting up in the fridge, use an electric mixer to mix together 1 8oz carton of cool whip, 1 8oz pack of cream cheese and 1 cup of sugar. Top 2nd layer with this mixture and let set up over night in the fridge.

LEILA’S SAUSAGE DIPChristmas at my Dad’s house has changed a lot over the years, but one thing that I have grown to love is sau-sage dip. It’s easy to make and people at family gatherings love it. When I take it places I rarely come home with any leftovers, so doubling the recipe is sometimes necessary.

INGREDIENTS: 16 oz regular cream cheese 1 roll of sausage 1 can of Rotel 1 can of corn DIRECTIONS: 1. Brown sausage in a frying pan2. Heat cream cheese on the stove until soft 3. Add Rotel, can of corn, and sausage to the mix 4. Enjoy with tortilla chips

PATRICK’S BEEF TENDERLOINThis is about as simple as recipes come with outstand-ing results. Don’t be too dismayed by the cost. A three-pound beef tenderloin should feed eight to 10 people. INGREDIENTS

One three-pound beef tenderloin (Ask the meat counter folks to provide)3/4 cup soy sauce1/2 cup melted butterDIRECTIONS:Preheat oven to 350 degreesPlace roast in a shallow glass baking dish. Mix soy sauce and melted butter before pouring the mixture over tenderloin.Bake for 10 minutes, then turn roast over and continue cooking for another 35 to 45 minutes, basting occasionally until internal temperature is 140 degrees for medium. Let meat rest for 15 minutes before slicing. Enjoy. You’ll be everybody’s hero!

DIANNE’S SEVEN-LAYER SALADIt just doesn’t get more Southern than Seven Layered Salad and there is no dish on earth that doesn’t become more deli-cious with a pound of crispy, crumbly, delicious bacon. Oh and if you don’t use Duke’s mayo, you fl at ain’t Southern and it WILL NOT turn out right! This has been a Thanksgiving, Christmas and Spe-cial Event favorite among my family and friends since I was 97 pounds (which if you must know equates to 1979). Oh and WARNING: Do NOT serve if hippy vegetar-ians are amongst your guest list. Trust me: You don’t want to know.INGREDIENTS:Iceberg lettuce torn into bite-sized piecesChopped celery (about fi ve stalks)Chopped sweet onionThawed out frozen peas without any type of sauceOne pound of bacon, cookedTons of cheddar cheeseDuke’s mayo

DIRECTIONS:Layer and top with cheese followed by Dukes! DELISH!

BETSY’S TOM AND JERRY’SThis is my grandfa-ther’s recipe, “Dad-dy Mourice.” He tweaked it for years.INGREDIENTS:One dozen eggs3/4 tsp. cream of tartarOne tsp. allspiceOne pound of pow-dered sugarNutmegRum and brandy (equal parts)DIRECTIONS:Separate the eggs – you may use all the whites, if you want, or just nine whites.With an electric mixer, start beating whites with cream of tartar. Soon as the whites start to get foamy, start adding the powdered sugar slowly, a teaspoon or two at a time until all the sugar is in.Then beat a little more. Beat the yolks good and add the allspice. While beating, add yolks to whites and mix well.Mix the brandy and rum together, about eight ounces at a time. Put one gravy ladle of egg mixture in the bottom of a six-ounce cup. Add one jigger of the rum and brandy mixture. Stir well, then fi ll cup with boiling water. Stir again and shake nutmeg on top.

MONARAY’S SWEET POTATO CASSEROLEThis is a favorite recipe of mine, es-pecially during the Thanksgiving and Christmas seasons. My mother used this recipe and each of her children have enjoyed making it. We call it “Mother Sweet Potato Casserole.”FILLING INGREDIENTS:Three cups mashed sweet potatoesOne cup sugarTwo eggsOne teaspoon milk1/2 cup melted butter1/2 cup half and halfFilling Directions: Mix together and pour into a buttered casserole dishTOPPING INGREDIENTS: One cup brown sugarOne cup chopped nuts1/3 cup self-rising fl our1/3 cup melted butterTOPPING DIRECTIONS: Mix together and sprinkle over sweet po-tato casseroleBake at 350 degrees for 30 to 40 min-utes

TIA’S BRUSSELS SPROUTS WITH BALSAMIC AND CRANBERRIES

INGREDIENTS

Three pounds Brus-sels sprouts1/2 cup olive oilsalt And pepperOne cup balsamic vinegar1/2 cup sugarOne cup dried cran-berriesDIRECTIONS:Trim/clean Brussels sprouts, then cut them in half if desired (or you can leave them whole). Arrange on two baking sheets and toss with olive oil. Sprinkle with plenty of salt and pepper and roast at 375 degrees for 25 to 30 minutes, or until brown.Combine balsamic vinegar and sugar in a saucepan. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to medium-low and reduce until very thick, about 15 to 20 minutes.Drizzle the balsamic reduction over the

roasted sprouts, then sprinkle on dried cranberries. Toss and serve immediately.

ANDREA’S QUICK & EASY CORN CASSEROLE

This is a favorite of mine since I am always in a rush to put something to-gether before travel-ing to family holiday celebrations. It’s a simple recipe, with only fi ve ingredi-ents, and is always a big hit around the table. I never reveal how easy it is!INGREDIENTS:One can of creamed cornOne can of whole kernel corn (drained)One box of Jiffy cornbread mixOne block of reduced fat cream cheeseOne stick of butterDIRECTIONS:Soften the cream cheese and butter and mix together with the remaining ingredi-ents. Pour into greased baking dish and cook for 35- 45 minutes on 350 until the edges are browned and the middle no longer jiggles.

KATIE’S APPLE CIDERMy mom used to always make this during the holidays. It smells absolutely wonderful. Like Christmas threw up all over the house. I started making it at the newspapers several years ago to spread some Christmas cheer when we all want to murder someone because of the holiday deadlines. A couple of years ago, on a deadline night, I plugged in the crockpot, only to blow a fuse at the of-fi ce, subsequently crashing some of my coworker’s computers. Speak of murder-ing someone... Luckily, I warmed over the staff when I handed them a mug of cider. The base recipe is delicious, but it espe-cially will improve your spirits if you add, well, spirits.INGREDIENTS:Gallon of apple cider (apple juice will do, but cider is best – Ziegler’s is especially yummy)Half-gallon of orange juiceThree to four cinnamon sticksGenerous spoonful of whole allspice ber-ries

DIRECTIONS:Pour cider and orange juice into a large crock-pot. I never measure it, only make it to taste. It’s best with a 2:1 or 3:1 ratio of apple cider to orange juice. Add the spices and simmer on low. The cinnamon sticks will eventually unroll and *KERPOW* - tasty goodness.

JESSE’S LAZY TURKEYMy favorite holiday food has got to be the turkey. This is how I prepare it. I wake up in the morning, and my family and I ride to my Grandpar-ent’s house while listen-ing to Christmas music the whole way. After we arrive, sit around, and talk for a bit, we hear my Grandmother say that the food is ready. We all then gather around the table ready to eat. We say the bless-ing, and start fi lling our plates. Turkey, being the fi rst thing I grab, is by far my favorite thanksgiv-ing food. And that’s my secret recipe of how I fi x holiday turkey.

ROCIO’S BUTTERBEERAs the holidays begin to ap-proach, my mind begins to wander and I start to imag-ine myself in a winter won-derland. I’m not sure about you, but I believe the most perfect and ideal place to be during the holidays is in Hogsmeade…or at least curled up on the couch by the fi replace, reading the Harry Potter series, imagining yourself in the perfect world that is Hogwarts.INGREDIENTS:1/2 c. butter1/2 c. brown sugar (fi rmly packed)One quart of milkFour teaspoons of vanilla1/4 tsp. cinnamonDIRECTIONS:Melt the butter and brown sugar together in a saucepan to make caramel. Add milk, vanilla, and cinnamon to the saucepan and stir to com-bine. Bring the mixture to the boil,serve, and enjoy.

DECEMBER 19, 2013 www.morgancountycitizen.com C5Christmas Edition

Merry Christmas

from

Esquire Ins. Agency

706.342.0060706.342.0820 fax

1401 Eatonton Rd.Suite 300

Madison, GA 30650

June McGirtOwner/Agent

Carol BurgeAgent

Shree’ ReynoldsCustomer Service

7

M

SCu

We hope you have a very Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year!

Madison-MorganChamber of Commerce

115 E. Jefferson St.Madison, GA706-342-4454

The Magic of Christmas1975 : Jan and Laura, children of the Mike Lureys, look up the chimney in amaze-ment.

A. He had low ELF-esteem!

Q. Why was Santa’s helper depressed?

FUN FACTS• All of the gifts in

the 12 days of Christ-mas song would equal 364 gifts.

• Most of Santa’s reindeer have male sounding names, how-ever male reindeer shed their antlers in the winter, so it’s more than likely that all his reindeer are female.

• The traditional col-ors of Christmas are red, green and gold. Red symbolizes the blood of Christ, green has long been a sym-bol of life and rebirth, and gold represents light as well as wealth and loyalty.

• Christmas trees usually grow for about 15 years before they are sold.

• Alabama was the fi rst state in the U.S. to recognize Christmas in 1836.

• Christmas was not declared an offi cial holiday in the U.S. until June 26, 1870.

• Mistletoe is from the Anglo-Saxon word misteltan, which means “little dung twig”, because the plant seed spreads through bird drop-pings.

• Because of their pagan associations, both the holly, ivy and other green boughs in home decorations were banned by the sixty century Christian Council of Braga.

JOSIAH’S PEPPERNUTSINGREDIENTS

2.5 cups of sugar1/2 cup of brown sugar1 cup of lard or shortening1/2 teaspoon of salt2 teaspoons of soda in 1 cup of hot water2 tablespoons of cinnamon1 tablespoons of ginger1 teaspoon of anise1 teaspoon of pepper1/2 teaspoon of clovers1/2 teaspoon of allspice1/2 teaspoon of cardamon1/2 teaspoon of nutmegApproximately 12 cups of flour (makes a stiff dough)

Form the dough into rolls, and slice into desired size. Bake at 375 for 8 to 9 min-utes (less if you like a lighter color).

DECEMBER 19, 2013www.morgancountycitizen.com

Wishing You & Your Family

A Very Merry Christmas!

Der Santa, I wote a I iphone b so we I can play with I wote it two be pink and get my bruther one two make it black but I wote it pink I wote a mermade case I wote the gurl two areol.Love,Madi

Dear Santa,I want a bike. I wnat a I toch.I want I blak.Aad a hot wool.I have been Good.I want a elf.LoveBen

Dear Santa, I wot los uv tors and a fash lit fand I wot a kidorf igir a tomee suver a for wiler. seep elt fand. Piloow a DS Lot uv cloZ PoLish shooZ ctar skarf gaKit soks bitn sPider. Betin StarLoveAdikuntz

Dear Santa,all I wont for Cismisus is you. A tablit and a Iphone. And a nabe 2. And a phone. And a nick tindo. And more suf to my doll house. Babydoll. I wont for Crismisus sum Churs shos. And a pngwin.Lexie.

Dear Santa,cub you buy me a birt bike.I wot a toy whet ever you give me I weh I hadGot to fi ve I wot a X box360 and a play htainLove Marquez

Dear Santa,this is what I want for chis-mis this year. I whood like a computer for crismis. I hope you git a present for crismis to Santa?Love,Lily

Dear Santa,I will like a dirt bike and foot-ball men and a baseketball and a Ipod and legos and a xbox one. Love, Preston

Dear Santa,I want a ipad. And a TV.Love,Chloe Thank you for the toys.

Dear Santa,I arete no what I whont. I whont a tablet and a play stasner 4 for christmas. I have ben good.Love, Jordan

Dear Santa,santa toutn you four brrig me a tur y santa you is nines santa can your br me a babry ban for crismus can you toy is veret nines your elf is nines your oers is nines I louve crismus I louve santaLove,Retohna

Dear Santa,I want a IPod. I have bin gud you shud giv me it becuase I Hav bin good. Love,Shep

Dear Santa,I wunt a Amerukin Doll and a I fum 5 with a hell us Kite Ceys and A Bobe Doll Hows and a pley car and a TaBlit.Love,Sasha

Dear Santa,wut I wot for krismis is los of brbeeos and wut est I wot for krismis is a barbbaool huos.Love,Gracie

Dear Santa,I want a Electtiec razr Stook-ter. And, a amarrkin gril doll pet honiy. And a stuff anmil

joiy becuse I haave help’t my mom and dad cook. And I vace not been teling lies. That is why I want toth toys. Love,Carson

Dear Santa, I want a new nook and a I Pod Tuch and a E Lechik scooter I ben good I are reley made 2 Lict a Bowt My tows I wuht I are told my elf on the self. Love,Timler

Dear Santa,How are you and the elfs do-ing? I want to know how do you get in my house. I want a DS and 10 games with it too and a pupy, Legos, play-dow.Love,Angel

Dear Santa,How many elfs do you have? I want a ipod, a lote of stuf. Plese brening me a elfe. Thank you.Love, Valeria

Dear Santa Claus,How do you get the toys? Where do you live? How do you get magit? I want a by-alad for chrismas. My bruder wants a smah masnger for chrismas.Love,Jesus

Dear Santa,Santa Claus how do you get in my home? Are you going tu come to my home? Haw can you eat all the cooks from homs? I want some zebra clothes. I want some colring books. I want a snuge. I want a comfarter. I want a alarm clok. I want a braslit. I want some hairbos. I want some pinsils and erasrs.Love,Lacey

Dear Santa...Letters from

Morgan County School Students

“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” - Matthew 6:21

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C6 Christmas Edition

Dear Santa, How is your day? Are you coming to my house to try some my cookies? I want a Ipad, Xbox, and a baskit-ball. And thats all I want.Your friend,Santi

Dear Santa,I will like a electric scoot-er of Monster High a pan-da, a rell girl, puppy that likes to play with kids. some shoes, and monuy to the poor, and clothes to the poor. How are you and Mrs. Clas? Will you like to eat bred with milk? Becase I don’t have cookis. Is that o.k.? How do you get the present to all the kids? What are the name of your reindeer? How are your elfs? How is the North Pole? How big is your sleigh? How many kids on the nice list and the naughty list? Marry Christmas.Ho-Ho-Ho-Ho-HoYour fi rend, Nataly Casillas

Dear Santa,On Christmas can I have a phone when I grow up? I know you are very busy geting the presents ready but I want you to come to my house everyday. And I want a new red bike.Love,Peter

Dear Santa, I want a I pod, skats, a computer. Do you bring cooiks? How do you get in my house? I want a big present. Which cooiks do you like? I want a pupy. Merry christmas ho-ho-ho!Love,Saray

Dear Santa Claus,My name is Jordan. I want a elf for Christmas so I can look at it. I like elfs. Are you comeing to my houes on Christmas eve?Love, Jordan

Dear Santa, I want an elf, and reindeer, frozen snowmen, two ger-men sheepers, some are supplies, and clay. How do you eat all of the treats in the world? Do you realy

have reindeer? Do you have a camra on your sleigh?Your frind,Syerr

Dear Santa,I want a I pad for Christ-mas. I will try to not be naughty. What kinds of cookies do you like? How do you get in my house? How do reindeer pull your slegh?Love,Erick

Dear Santa,Santa can I have an elf to be in my Chrismas tree? I would want it to have a letter in his hand. What do your house looks like? I love you Santa.Love,Yadira

Dear Santa Claus,How are you doing today? How is your reindeer? Are you going to my house? What do you have on your list? Is North Pole is still cold? I want a iPod and a four games for my nin-tendo threeds and three books. Merry Christmas Santa Claus.Love,Parminder

Dear Santa, I wont a frbby and H Ella Kitiity ear phon, an monster High nails, an a iPod. Are you nervus of all of the kids? Merry Christ-mas. Ho-Ho-Ho-Ho.Your,frend,Precious

Dear Santa,I want a Transformers Dark of the moon oc-tumes prime ultmade. How can you get in side my house? Can I have a mija go jay woch. What does a elf look like. Can I have a baybblad sogun steel?From,Angel Saldana

Dear Santa,For Christmas I want a dirtbike, gocart, Xbos, and a PlayStaion 4 and a drum set. I want a elf to. Are you comeing to my house?love,Jay

Dear Santa,What I want is a P.S. 3 and the game Cato doode 2 and a detind 2 DS. How can you giv all the childrin prisint? Can you tel me if Rudolph is ril?Love,Mauricio

DECEMBER 19, 2013 www.morgancountycitizen.com C7Christmas Edition

Deer Santa.How are your radeere? Can you plys get me a rist ban macer? Becus I rily wolt it and it looks fun. Can you plys get me a gliste glowb? Can you plys get me a amer-cin ger herset? I doo my home werck.Love,Haedyn

Dear Santa,Haue are you? I wont a dog. I wont a dert bike with gas. I wont a ranger. I wont a for wiler with gas. I have ben good al yeeer.Luve,Nolan

Dear Santa,Is your diers edng good? I wote a elf on the shelf. I wote a ipad. I wote a mo-teersikal. I wote chips and oranges. I ben good bcus I past the redeg levl.Luve,Melo

Dear Santa,I hav ben good at home.I wot a tablit for Krismis.I wot a football hemit.I wot a footoll.I wot a SpugBoB and Pratrik toys.I hav bin on Star and green.Love Jamais

Dear Santa Clause,I have been very good this year. I would like to ask you a few questions. Did you have a super year? I hope you did because I like to hear that you have been jolly. Do you like your job? I just want to know. Now here are the things I would like for Christmas. I would like an ipod touch, roller skates, some American Girl doll stuff and a calender of my own. That is what I would like for Christmas. I will leave you some milk, cookies and some carrots for the rein-deer. Merry Christmas Santa!Your friend,Ellison

Dear Santa Claus,Have I been good. I think that Christmas is the best holiday in the world. I like Christmas because you get presnts and get to see family. I would like to come up with you and your elfs. I would to work for you. I wake up early and I go wake my brother. We go wake up our Presnts. Then we open our presnts. Thank you for bring us Present.Love,Blake

Dear St. Nick,This is what I need to tell you. I haven’t been naughty this year, I’ve been good. Thank you for all the pres-ents that you give to all the children and parents. I know it’s hard to make stuff for all the people all around the world. I wish I had your talent. I also wish the whole

world could make a big su-prise for you. For Christmas I want anything that is good. Wait and I also want Mini Air Jordans. I hope you have a Merry Christmas. Ho, Ho,Ho.Love, Danny

Dear St. Nick,I’ve been good this year. I’m always the fi rst to wakeup on Christmas. How old are you? Are you exhausted after you delivering presents to the world. Santa you are my hero. Because you beat Jack Frost. These are the things I want for Christmas. A 3DS with Super Mario, Sonic lost world those are the things I want for Christ-mas.Love,Christopher Morgan

Dear Santa Claus,I hope you had a wonderful year up in the North Pole. Are you having a great time with the elves? Is it snow-ing in the North Pole? I have been trying to be good this time of year. Are you busy making toys? May I have a tellis cop because my Dad thinks we lost a piece. I hope you are having a fun time wereking on toys or other things.Love,Edie

Dear Santa,I hope you have a great Christma! I’m sure you are very busy this year making lots of toys. I’m not good at being perfect, but I am trying my best at being good at school! I’m trying to be good at the home! Christiphe, our elf is waching Lauren and me very good! I will be gone Christmas. I am going to Dinsney! I am sure you are making great presints! May you give me a new horse sadle please? Can y give me a zoomer please? I hope you have a great Christmas. Love,Rytee

Dear Santa, I hope you’ve had an amaz-ing year at the work shop. Do you have all of the pres-ents ready? Will you please come to my house fi rst! Can you please get me a new bike, a wii game called Super Smash Bros, and sume Nerf gun ammo? Good bye for now.I hope you like my mild and cookies.Your friend, Miles

Dear Santa,I hope you are having a lovely winter. I’m sure you are your cute elves are very busy making awesome toys for kids all around the world. I’m not perfect but I tried to be on my best behavior at school and at home. For Christmas, I want a cool her-met crab. I’m going to name him Pincher. I want him to

be

about 4 inches long. I also want a nice spy watch like my friend Cabe. It is red and, it also has a lazer. It shows different times in different places. I hope you like my cookies, and what’s your favorite kind? Thank you for all you’ve done for all of us kids. Merry Christmas!Your friend,Grayson

Dear Santa Claus,I hope you are having a fantastic time at the work-shop making wonderful toys for all the boys and girls in the world. I know you are busy, but please take some time to read this letter. May I please have 3 candy canes, white and red striped of course, a pair of pink and white high top boots, and fi nally some pretty deco-rated paper of all shapes and sizes? I hope you have a very Merry Christmas and a happy New Year!Sincerely,Addison Boyer

Dear Santa,my name is Dominick. I wus good. I want 8 pesis ov muny. and 8 pandus. I want a hamster. and

Dear Santa,I bin like a bag girl becuz at home me an my sooster been fusen an I do not wot to start a arger met bot I wot for crim is a car and Jast das 4 an a mot Ig.Love, Zakiyah

Dear Santu,plees con I hav 2 i pods good boy,and I wont a dert bikeand I wont a paweland A thasin dolersand a foot ballLove,Hunter

Dear Santa,What does the nouth paul look like? My elf Elfi y didn’t give me good info. I would like for you to give me a pickcher of rudallfu, plase. What kind of cookie do you like the best? is the story of rudalifu real? how old are you. Do elfves sometimes go crasy? will you writ back soon? Your friend,Charles Martin

Dear Santa,My name is Anna Kate. I am 8 years old. And live in Rutledge Ga. I really would like a Pogo stick. How is Mrs. Clause doing. I wish I were you because you get all of the treats.Love,Anna Kate

Deer Santa,I hape you can get me a tripp to Colarodoe. I hape you can keep it in the buget. Can you please get me an elf for Christmas. You are my hero. I’m sorry for beehing a little naughty this

year. This year i’m going to give you something in return. Plus if you can’t get some of the stuff I won’t be devastated. and if you can’t you know what else you know. Your friend,Gibron

Dear Santa,can I plez hav a hrse.I’m bin god.I wilev you Prezint.Love,Alyssa Sanders

Dear Santa,Can I have a Train?Leve me a prezent. I will leve you cookiesLove, Cardin Tran

Dear Santa,I want a Caroline Ameri-can Girl doll for Christmas. School has been hard but I have done great. I get almost all 100’s and do my homework. Another reason I think I should get it is that I am helpful. When my sister needs help I help her and I always help my brother. Also, we are like each other in two ways. First, we both like baby cows. Second, we share the same name. As you can see I really hope I get her for Christmas.Sincerely,Karoline

Dear Santa,I hope you’re not to busy to read this. I really need a new violin. I have grown out of the one you gave me last year. I need the size me-dium. Well, that’s what my violin teacher said. Have you had lots of rest for your big ride? If not you probably will need some rest! Has my elf Lucky been reporting good things about me? I hope you’ll like my cookies I am going to make for you. Tell your wife Mrs. Clause I said hi! Merry Christmas!Your sincerly,Poppy-Grace Buck

Dear Santa,All I want for christmas is to help the poor. I want to give the poor money and if it’s a child I want to give them toys, like a Barbie doll or a Star Wars toy a stuff like that. I want to help them get homes.Love,Grace Fowler

Dear Santa,Can you please give some toys to the Orphanage for me? I just wanted the kids in the orphanage to have a merry Christmas!love,Adelena Mae Ignoffo

Dear Santa Clause,How are you? What I want for Christmas is for you to give the Orphanage some toys for Christmas. You should give the little girls some dolls and give the little boys some dinosarse toys and something specal for them like a kitten for the girls and a puppy for the boys. You can be the one who saves all the children from being board. I hope you can do that for me and make those children happy. I hope the children like there toys. Thank you Santa.Love Your Friend,Mackenzie Mullins

Dear Santa,I treid to be great. I would like boots, Nebune 2, 3 packs of germx with cases, 1d songs. I had helped my mom broom the house. How is all of the reindeer. I would like 2 horses.Love,Litzy

Dear Santa,I have ben very kind and nice but what I wont is all the people that are hame lese to git food and git nouw clows and let them in the perad to let people now it is like to be home lese. Plese.Love,Sommer

Dear Santa,I tried so hard to be on my best behavior. I need stuff I don’t want stuff I need it. Like cloths and shoes. I dont thing I should get stuff I need not want. I been geting up in the morning very good. Chrismas is my favorite time of the year. Have your elves be working if they havn’t tell and I will work that all out. Lol. You are the best.

Love your friend,Keely

We’re sorry that we couldn’t fi t all of the letters to Santa into the paper, but we made sure to send each and every one of them up to the North Pole for Santa to see before Christmas.

Wishing You A Happy Holidays & Prosperous New Year!

Madison Dental GroupDr. Richard Reichman

1040 Barclay Drive, Madisonwww.madisongadentist.com

706-342-1242

DECEMBER 19, 2013www.morgancountycitizen.comC8 Christmas Edition

Merry ChristmasWishing You

the Best in the

New Year!1880 Bethany Rd. Suite A

Madison, GA 30650706.342-3636

Wishing You & Your Family A Merry Christmas & A Prosperous New Year!

Bonners Triple B Restaurant

706-342-9610

Children build and decorate gingerbread constructions at the Madison Morgan Cultural Center Leila Dycus staff writer

The children of Morgan County were able to unleash their creativity and satisfy their sweet tooth this week.

On Th ursday Dec. 12 children and their parents from across town packed Th e Hall behind the Madison-Morgan Cultural Center. Th ey were there to ring in the holiday sea-son by making gingerbread houses.

“It just always gets me in the mood for the holidays,” said Artist Guild Director Elizabeth Collins.

When guests walked into the open room they came across many tables in the center of the room. A stage held lights and a microphone, and Christmas music sang out from the speakers. In front of the stage, a group of children sat in a circle playing duck-duck-goose.

Elizabeth Collins, who played Mrs. Clause for the event, called for the attention of the children. She engaged the chil-dren by asking them how many of them had previously been to the event before showing the children what they were go-ing to do.

Underneath the tables were a bunch of boxes, which the children would use to build their gingerbread construc-tions.

Collins said that Ingles donated the icing, which serves as the glue that sticks everything together, and that each child would get their own can of icing.

Th e children built their houses on a base. High school stu-dents dressed up as elves would get the children everything they needed.

Th e tables were adorned with all kinds of candy and treats, so, if the kids ran out of construction material, the elves could alwasy get them more.

“I like eating them,” said, sixth grader, Rose Kuntz. “I’m building a penthouse with a pool on the top.”

After a demonstration, the kids were sent to the tables to begin crafting. Th e music played and the lights danced across the walls of the room.

Parents sat alongside their children. Some helped apply ic-ing with popsicle sticks to boxes, while others just watched.

“It’s a really great way for kids to express themselves,” said, one of the elves, Leslie Wasendoff .

As time passed, the houses started to take shape. Mrs. Clause and the elves walked around the room talking to the children and bringing them things they needed to complete their projects. According to Elizabeth Collins, the event has been taking place for about eight years.

Collins went on the say that a group of students from the Boys and Girls Club attended the event this year. She also said that there are sponsorships available for children that are interested in participating next year.

At the end of the night a special surprise came to the chil-dren.

Th e Snow Queen, an older lady with beautiful white hair and a long coat, visited the group. Th e Snow Queen comes to the gingerbread house event to sprinkle the fi nished cre-ations with powdered sugar snow for a fi nal, wintry touch.

“All the kids really enjoy making their own diff erent things,” said one of the vol-unteers, Madison Evans.

“I like making ginger-bread houses because you can be as creative as your want and its opening cre-ative outlets,” said Riley Knight.

A. Comet

Q. What does Santa

clean his sleigh with? “Believe it or not, Christmas is Spat’s

favorite time of year!!”- Becky Snowden, PROUD OWNER

Photos by Josiah Connelly

DECEMBER 19, 2013 www.morgancountycitizen.com C9Christmas Edition

Christmas is Roasting the Turkey1985 : Christmas is roasting the turkey with all the trimmings! Mrs. Charlie Burley prepares a big bird for the holidays.

Joy on Christmas Morning1975 : Little Heather Moore, daughter of the Bob Moores, opens a package from those she loves.

Christmas Spirit Abounds1980 : Chris Gilbert, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Bruce Gilbert, straightens the Christ-mas wreath on the front door of her house.

Santa’s On His Way1966 : Paul, Hunter, and Kathy Reid, three excited children at the Paul Reid house in Madison, are eagerly awaiting Santa’s arrival.

Ready For Christmas1985 : Tiny Olivia Nicole Scholly, fi ve-month-old daughter of the Bill Schollys, all ready for her fi rst Christmas.

One of the Joys of Christmas is Santa1982 : The joy of Christmas is… seeing Santa. Amanda Thompson, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Howard Thompson, looks at Santa in Thompson’s Jewelry Store.

The Christmas Spirit1982 : Mr. and Mrs. Richard Hubbard in their pew at their church in Rutledge.

Anticipation of Gift Opening1966 : Robbie and David Crawford, sons of the Robert Crawfords, are tempted to take a peek into the packages around their home on Harris Street in Madison.

A G

LAN

CE

BA

CK

...

Wishing you & Your Family a Blessed Christmas!

Rhonda Smith706-319-7980

DECEMBER 19, 2013www.morgancountycitizen.comC10 Christmas Edition

“What kind of cookie does Santa love the most and why?”

Every year on the eve of December 24, Santa climbs aboard his sleigh, which is overfl owing with toys. He will then magically deliver to all the good little booys and girls in the world. It’s a tough

job, but someone has to do it! And the only payment that Santa asks for is milk and cookies. This year, we’re asking Mrs. Latham’s 2nd Grade Class the crucial question of:

By Leila Dycus staff writer

Bennett Cousins2ND GRADE

“Chocolate chip, it has chocolate chips in it.”

Chloe Jones2ND GRADE

“Oreos, because they have cream inside.”

Grayson Rimert2ND GRADE

“Sugar cookies because they have a lot of frosting.”

Emma Trawick2ND GRADE

“Chocolate chip, because it’s sweet.”

Edie Lamar2ND GRADE

“Chocolate cookies, because it probably has chocolate.”

Addison Boxer2ND GRADE

“He likes Christmas Cookies, because his favorite holiday is Christmas.”

Cabe Elliott2ND GRADE

“Chocolate chips, because Santa is really fat and chocolate has sugar in it and it makes him fat.”

Emily Hilsman2ND GRADE

“Chocolate chip, because most people make chocolate chip for him and he’s used to those so he likes them the most.”

Haley Doss2ND GRADE

“Maybe because it would be a rainbow cookie, because it has pretty colors in it: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, violet.”

Jae Benford2ND GRADE

“Chocolate chip cookies, because it has chocolate chips in it.”

Miles Butler2ND GRADE

“Chocolate chip cookies because most people make it.”

Quaterrian Mathis2ND GRADE

“Oreos, because he ate all of them, he ate all of them on the plate.”

Reece Treadwell2ND GRADE

“Santa loves every kind of cookie, whatever cookie you put on out Santa will eat it.”

Zi’reion Stewart2ND GRADE

“If Santa Clause’s favorite cookies are chocolate and he drink milk. He likes white milk.”

Skylar Johnson2ND GRADE

“Chocolate chip because he likes chocolate cookies.”

Rylee Bernard2ND GRADE

“Chocolate chip, because I guess he just, he just likes chocolate things.”

May your Holidays be

Merry & Bright!Don’t miss our Big After Christmas Sale!

Thursday, December 26th - Tuesday, December 31st!Great Selection of Sale Items Throughout the Store, Including lots of Christmas items! We will be closing

at 5pm on December 31st!

1 Academy St Madison 6 3 2 5www.MadisonMarkets.com

A. Frostbite!

What do you get when you cross a snow-

man with a vampire?

Santa Claus rolling down the hill!

What’s red and white, red and white, red and white?

DECEMBER 19, 2013 www.morgancountycitizen.com C11Christmas Edition

Wishing you a very Merry Christmas & a joyous

New Year from all of us at the

Madison Chop House Grille!

205 S. Main Street • 706.342.9009

Best Wishes for a Great Christmas &

Joyous New Year!

u ra e ri e a iso706-342-3875

y

i

Merry Christmas & Best Wishes

for a Happy New Year!

Madison Car Care1040 Confederate Rd.

706.342.4774

Morris Wreckers

o M iso

o r Wrecker er ice ire r ck e ir

Cane: We keep a close eye on all the naughty and nice children, as you know, so knowing what they want re-ally isn’t a problem.

Citizen: I hadn’t thought of that. So, in your opinion, what is the best way for children to get what they want from Santa each year?

Cane: Well, the fi rst thing is obvious: be nice. If you are naughty all year, the only thing Santa will bring you is coal. No, wait, Santa hasn’t been able to give out coal since 1964, when the Elf Union decreed that elves would no longer handle coal. But my second piece of advice is to not ask for too much and to really want what you ask for.

Citizen: Really?Cane: You’d better believe it. Santa

hates it when children ask for presents that they don’t really want. Th ey see the newest cool toy that their friend has and feel like they have to have one too, whether or not it is something that they would really play with. If you really, honestly want the toys on your list, Santa is much more likely to de-liver them to you.

Citizen: Th at’s great advice. I don’t want to take up any more of your time, so is there anything else you would like to tell the people of Mor-gan County?

Cane: Only one more thing: be nice to each other throughout the entire year, because Santa is always watch-ing. It is how well you treat your fellow man that determines the gifts that you enjoy in life. Don’t take that simple fact for granted.

CANE>> From Page C12 The Citizen Presents: SANTA’S REINDEER GAMES

Pulling a sleigh thousands of miles while it’s fi lled to the brim with presents and a jolly old man can be a monumentous feat, even with magic, so Santa’s reindeer must really be prepared to BRING IT! Every year, in early December, they take part in the annual reindeer games, as an Olympic type competition to see just who is the strongest! It’s not all strength games though and the talent show portion always seems to bring out the.. err... CREATIVE side of the reindeer. Take a look!

DASHERTalent: Weightlifting

DANCERTalent: Dramatic Dance

PRANCERTalent: Beatboxing

VIXENTalent: Singing

COMETTalent: Football Catching

BLITZENTalent: Wave-Riding

DONNERTalent: Playing Saxophone

CUPIDTalent: Hole-in-One

Holiday Word SearchBELL

CANDLECANDY

COOKIESFRUITCAKE

HOLLYMISTLETOE

POINSETTIAPRESENTS

SNOWSTOCKINGS

TINSELWREATH

COLORING PAGE

MERRY CHRISTMAS!During this holiday season and every day of the year, we wish you all the best!

Financial Advisor

149 W. Jefferson St.Madison, GA 30650706.342.9938

THE NORTH POLE CITIZENSpecial Edition!

December 19, 2013 C12Busily covering the elves toy making progress since 1842

The Scoop on SantaBy Phil Zastockin staff writer

Last week, the Morgan County Citi-zen got a once-in-a-lifetime opportu-nity: the chance to interview Santa’s right-hand-elf: Jangle Cane. Cane has been the head of Santa’s elf work force ever since his uncle, Parsley Cane, re-tired in 1833.

Th e holiday season is typically Jangle Cane’s busiest time of year, but, during a quick stop in Madison for lunch last Wednesday, Cane was kind enough to spend a few minutes discussing his past at the North Pole and how he thinks Santa will develop his organization in the future.

Citizen: Th ank you for your time, Mr. Cane. I know you have a lot of impatient clients this year.

Cane: Please call me Jangle. Yes, this is a busy time of year, but Santa always gives us a little time to relax, even during the holiday rush.

Citizen: Th at’s very gracious of him. You said that you have managed the rest of Santa’s elves since 1833. How long in all have you been working at the North Pole?

Cane: Hmm... let’s see. I started working in Santa’s factory right after I left elf school in 1648. So this will be my 365th year with the company.

Citizen: You’ve been working for 365 years?!? How old are you, Mr. Cane?

Cane: I thought I asked you to call me Jangle. I am 405 years old this Christmas. All of the elves are born on Christmas Day because it is the least busy day of the year. Th e old presents are gone, and we don’t have to start on the new presents until the day after Christ-mas.

Citizen: Wow! So that means that elves are 50 years old when they graduate from elf school?

Cane: Well, when I was still in school, it only lasted until we turned 50, but now young elves will have to go to elf school for 80 years to learn everything we need to know about making toys and staying merry. Back in my day, the toys weren’t so complicated.

Citizen: So, you still make all of your own toys at the North Pole.Cane: Yes, sir. All of our toys are still proudly made at the very

tip-top of the world.Citizen: I imagine that requires quite a bit of machinery.Cane: Unfortunately, yes. When I fi rst started with Santa, all we

needed to make toys were a few hand tools and raw materials. To-day, we have acres of plants dedicated to each and every toy that a child on the good list could possibly want. Obtaining the rights to reproduce all of those toys makes up most of my job, so I rarely get the chance to build toys anymore.

Citizen: Unbelievable! And how do you possibly power all of those factories?

Cane: Very simply: there is enough magic energy at the North Pole to sustain all of the homes and factories that we could ever need, and the best part is that there are no harmful byproducts from the use of magic energy.

Citizen: Th e use of magic energy sounds like the best possible gift that Santa could give the world.

Cane: Indeed it would be, but, unfortunately, there isn’t enough magic energy concentrates left in the rest of the world to make that a possibility. Believe me, Santa has tried for many years to boost the children of the world’s belief in magic enough to sustain magic energy all over the world.

Citizen: Th at’s a shame. Anyway, you said that the toys have changed a lot since you started working with Santa. How do Santa and the elves keep up with all of the best new toys, which seem to change every month?

Christmas Tree MazeCan you fi nd your way fromthe base of the Christmas tree all the way to the star?

Jangle Cane

1Holiday

Crossword2

3

4

5 6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

ACROSS1. Hang these on the tree2. Evergreen or Pine3. Frosty is one4. You give and receive these5. Tie this on your package6. A Christmas color7. For the top of the tree

DOWN8. Rudolph9. Jolly toymaker10. Color of Santa’s suit11. Hang this from the mantle12. Santa’s helper13. Santa’s Transportation14. Christmas carol

See Cane Pg C11

What do you call an old snowman?

WATER!

What do you get when you fry Santa Claus?

CRISP CRINGLE!