New Year’s Eves have changed

Written by Joel Klaassen Tuesday, 03 January 2012 15:04

New Year’s Eve has changed from the days when we’d make sure we were awake to usher it in. This time, we watched the masses gathered in Times Square bring in 2012—and I know I was fast asleep when the new year hit Kansas.

We did, however, make it past midnight Jan. 1, so does that count?

•

I think I will need to find some steel-toed slippers or at least wear shoes around the house from now on. Twice in the past couple of weeks I’ve cracked my little toes (same ones) on chairs and other items around the house.

Is this old age creeping in, or is it just bad luck?

•

As we look to the future, I believe community newspapers are here to stay. And especially free papers like ours.

You read frequently that newspapers are going...

Read more: New Year’s Eves have changed

Rewards effort was worthwhile

Written by Joel Klaassen Tuesday, 27 December 2011 13:07

We didn’t know what to expect when we created our Holiday Local Rewards Pro­gram for this Christmas shopping season. The program ran from early Nov­ember through Dec. 16. Now that it’s complete and the winners have been announced, we think it was a huge success. Actually, we are still waiting for one of the winners to come forward.

Who would have thought the receipts collected by our Marion and Hillsboro Chambers of Commerce would total more than $200,000? This represents more than 2,000 tickets, each worth $100, handed out to area shoppers.

We know for a fact that this contest made some folks think twice about going out of town, and even changed some Christ­mas season shopping habits.

•

While most of us enjoy our weekends...

Read more: Rewards effort was worthwhile

With kids gone, no tree needed

Written by Joel Klaassen Tuesday, 20 December 2011 20:37

When the kids were still at home we always had the Christmas tree up by Dan’s birth­day in early December. Now that they are gone from home, the tree has become optional if they are not going to be here.

One year, when we were living on Adams Street, the stupid tree just wouldn’t stay standing straight. Since we had carpeting, and I knew there wasn’t hardwood flooring under neath it, the simplest way to fix this problem was to nail the stand to the floor. Isn’t that what everybody does?

•

I know the holiday season can be a stressful time, especially for the moms and grandmothers who are trying to work and still have everything ready at home for friends and family.

It’s also stressful so for younger couples who have to...

Read more: With kids gone, no tree needed

Of course I believe in Santa Claus

Written by Joel Klaassen Tuesday, 13 December 2011 16:35

If anyone asks me if I believe in Santa Claus, I say, “Of course I do.” I’ve seen him a couple of times this year already. And a lot of little kids can read these days, so I’m not going to be the one who spoils it.

When I was a little kid, my mom told me that when I opened my presents I always said, “That is just what I always wanted.”

I don’t remember it, but in retrospect, I believe that I said it in order to keep the gifts coming.

For sure there was one time when I got what I always wanted. It was an electrified jig saw that couldn’t cut your fingers, and I still have it. The cord has almost disintegrated and is cracked and crumbly.

Several years after I got it, the manufacturer quit making the correct length...

Read more: Of course I believe in Santa Claus